Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-12-09
the high and benefcent purposes OF our
government.
nANGERs OLE TIE SITUATION.

DANGERS OF THE SITUATION.
l have deemed it my duty thus tc
bring to the knowledge OF my country
men. as well as to the attention OF then
representatives, the responsibility o.
/ legislative relief, the gravity OF our imam
cial situation. The failure OF congress
heretofore to provide against the dangers
which 1t was quite evident the very ma
ture OF the difficulty most necessarily pro-
duce caused condition OF financial dis
tress and apprehension since their last
adjournment which taxes to the utmost
all the authority and expedients within
executive control, and these appear now
to be exhausted. Ii disaster results from
the continued inaction OF congress the re-
sponsibility must rest where it belongs.
Though the situation thus far considered
is fraught with danger which shout ~
fully realized, and though it presents
features OF wrong to the people as well
as to the country, it is but result grow
ing out OF perfectly palpable and APP
parent cause constantly reproducing the
same alarming circumstances con-
gested national treasury and depleted
monetary condition in the business OF
the country. 1t needs hardly be stated
that while the present situation demands
a remedy we can only be saved from
predicament in the future by the removal
OF the cause. Our scheme Of taxation,
by means of which this needless surplus
is taken from the people and put into the
public treasury, consists OF tariff or
duty levied upon importatlons from
abroad and internal revenue taxes levied
upon the consumption of tobacco and
sprtuous and malt liquors. 1t must be
considered that none OF these things
subjected to internal revenue taxation
are, strictly speaking, necessary, and
there appears to be no just cause OF com
plant of the consumers of the articles,
and there seems 80 be nothing so well
able to bear the burden without hard
ship to any portion oil the people.
OUR INEQUTrABLE TARIFF LAWS.
But our present tariff laws, the vari-
Gus, inequitable and Illegal source of un-
necessary taxation ought to be at once
revised and amended These laws, as
their primary and plain effect, raise the
price to consumers OF all articles import
ed and subjected to duty, by precisely
the sum paid for such duties. Thus the
amount OF the duty measures the tax
paid by those who purchase for use these
imported articles. Many Of these things,
however, are raised or manufactured in
our own country, and the duties now
levied upon the foreign goods and pro-
ducts are called protection to these home
manufacturers, because they render it
possible for those of our people who are
manufacturers to make these taxed arti.
cles and sell them for price, equal to
that demanded by the imported goods
that have paid customs duty; so it hap
pens that, while comparatively few ust
the imported articles, millions of oul
people who never use, and never saw
any OF the foreign products, purchase
and use things OF the same kind made
in this country, and pay therefor nearly
or quite the same enhanced price which
the duty adds to the imported articles
those who buy imports pay the dut,
charged thereon to the public treasury
but the great majority of our citizen
who buy domestic articles of the same
class pay a sum at least approximate,
equal to this duty to the home manufact
urers. This reference to the operation
OF our tariff laws is not made by way O
instruction, but in order that we may b.
constantly reminded of the manner il
which they impose burden upon thos
who consume domestic products as wei
rs those who consume imported articles
and thus create tax upon all our PEG
pie. 1t is not proposed entirely to re
lieve the country OF this taxation. |
must be extensively continued as tn
source of the governments income, ant
in a REIMBURSEMENT of our tariff the inter
ests OF American labor engaged in manu-
tacture should be carefully considered
as well as the preservation of our manu-
features. 1t may be called protection O
by any other name, but relief from tn
hardships and dangers of our presen
tariff laws should be devised with espe
cial precaution against imperilng tn
existence of our manufacturing interests
| But this existence should not mean
condition which, without regard to tn
public welfare or national exigency
must always insure the realization {
immense profits instead OF moderated
profitable returns.
PRorECTIONISrS ORGANIZED.
As the volume and diversity of OF
national activities increase, new recruit
are added TO those who desire a contir
uation OF the advantages which the
conceive the present system OF tariff ta2
| nti.,,, 4 IL .,9,-,- ill.,, .